Herne Bay Seafront

 Herne Bay is a coastal town in Kent, it isn't as flashy as nearby Margate and Ramsgate or as picturesque as Whitstable but what it is, is a more relaxed, quieter destination somewhere to take things easy. where life seems to slow down and if that is what you are after then you could do a lot worse than spend some time in Herne Bay.

One of the main attractions Herne Bay has to offer is its pier, the original pier was nothing more than a mooring platform that stretched out into the water but during the late Victorian era as holidays became more and more popular the town along with its pier were developed and expanded so much so that by 1897 Herne Bay was home to the country's second longest pier. Throughout the Edwardian era and early C20 the pier was renovated several times accumulating in a grand structure featuring a pavilion theatre. Following World War II the pier seemed to fall on harsh times and on January 11 1978 a large storm destroyed a large section of the structure leaving the pierhead separated from what remained closer to shore, the pierhead is indeed still there, out at sea, slowly collapsing. Following the storm what remained of the shore end was redeveloped and a sports centre was built, this modern building, nicknamed locally as the cowshed was in turn demolished and today the pier is more traditional looking, the entrance structure remains and a series of smaller 'sheds' like a row of little shops now lines the pier with fairground attractions filling out the remaining space. 

Let's All Cheer For Herne Bay Pier

The other most notable building along Herne Bay's promenade is the Bandstand, originally built in 1924 it became a popular destination for tea dances and visiting military bands, so highly thought of was the conductor that a red carpet would be laid out for him from the Connaught Hotel directly opposite the bandstand right up to the stage itself. In 1932 an Art Deco frontage was added to the bandstand becoming one of the first reinforced concrete structures in the county. The bandstand is built on pillars and the water used to run underneath it however over the years the beach has built up beneath the bandstand obscuring the view of the pillars. The flat ceiling of the original section that faces the sea is made up of seating space and during the WWII when the pier was closed anglers were allowed to fish from it. the ceiling also features cupolas ( a dome shaped feature built to allow in extra light) which were actually refreshment kiosks, the ceiling is now closed to the public for safety reasons.

Hear The Band Play Herne Bay Central Bandstand